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Schiphol welcomes 50 millionth passenger of 2012

This morning, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol welcomed the 50 millionth passenger of 2012. This is the first time in the airport’s history that more than 50 million passengers travelled via Schiphol in a single year. Mrs Edith Smits from Veghel, who arrived on KL0836 from Singapore, was welcomed at the gate by Schiphol Group CEO Jos Nijhuis and KLM CEO Peter Hartman.

Mrs Smits received a €2,000 travel voucher from KLM and Schiphol. She also received a €500 shopping voucher to spend at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and a goodie bag from IAmsterdam. The other passengers on the flight likewise received a gift as they exited the aircraft.

Never before have so many passengers travelled via Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in a single year. Emphasizing this milestone, Jos Nijhuis said, ‘It is fantastic that the 50 million passenger mark was reached this year. It is a splendid record that we can be proud of, together with KLM and the other airlines. And last year we celebrated the billionth passenger since Amsterdam Airport Schiphol opened. This illustrates the tremendous economic relevance of aviation to our country. The Netherlands operates at the international level’.

First charter flight 17 May 1920

Schiphol has been in business since 1916. In the early years, it served as a military airfield. The first charter flight, a KLM De Havilland 16 travelling from London, landed at Schiphol on 17 May 1920. Two journalists from the English newspaper The Times and a couple of bags of post were on board. In 1980, Schiphol welcomed an estimated 10 million passengers. In 2002, Schiphol reached the 40 million passenger milestone.